DaddyRosfield
2023
Final Fantasy XVI is the pinnacle of the action RPG and everything that came before this was building up to it. From the early 2000's the signs of change were apparent in the DNA of Final Fantasy X, XI and XII and when XIII perhaps deviated from the soul of the series too much, fans were eary of Square Enix's next attemps. While initially a failure, Final Fantasy XIV grew into an internationally reknowned and beloved game, one of the most profitable Japanese published ever in fact and while it certainly wasn't perfect, Final Fantasy XV brought back the soul and iconography of the series to leave us wanting more and more.
Final Fantasy XVI brought more, and then some.
The dark and gritty story inspired by Game of Thrones introduces us to some of the most grounded and realistic characters in Final Fantasy history with dramatic turns and themeing that absolutely left me floored. The combat and boss fights literally brought me to my knees at points with enough depth and spectacle to keep you coming back for more long after you've finished the main story.
This is one of the best games of the generation and perhaps even of all time.
Final Fantasy XVI brought more, and then some.
The dark and gritty story inspired by Game of Thrones introduces us to some of the most grounded and realistic characters in Final Fantasy history with dramatic turns and themeing that absolutely left me floored. The combat and boss fights literally brought me to my knees at points with enough depth and spectacle to keep you coming back for more long after you've finished the main story.
This is one of the best games of the generation and perhaps even of all time.
1998
"It's Snake. I'm in front of the disposal facility."
In 1998, few video games - if any - had the cinematic gravitas or complexity that Metal Gear Solid brought to the table when it released. Despite its age, Metal Gear Solid's story and presentation are a cut above most other games for the original PlayStation. The themes of political tension, geneology, self-acceptance and war (and its affects on soldiers) are all explored in a beautifully poetic way that only Hideo Kojima (and Jeremy Blaustein's English translation!) could provide. While the gameplay is quite rough around the edges - particularly in the depth of the stealth elements and the amount of backtracking the player is forced to do - it still has its own charm and appeal. The pacing of the boss fights and sneaking around a world with such and entrenched sense of place and immersive atmosphere thanks to an incredible soundtrack AND soundscape, along with a finely balanced difficulty curve make Metal Gear Solid a game worth playing even over 25 years after its initial release.
In 1998, few video games - if any - had the cinematic gravitas or complexity that Metal Gear Solid brought to the table when it released. Despite its age, Metal Gear Solid's story and presentation are a cut above most other games for the original PlayStation. The themes of political tension, geneology, self-acceptance and war (and its affects on soldiers) are all explored in a beautifully poetic way that only Hideo Kojima (and Jeremy Blaustein's English translation!) could provide. While the gameplay is quite rough around the edges - particularly in the depth of the stealth elements and the amount of backtracking the player is forced to do - it still has its own charm and appeal. The pacing of the boss fights and sneaking around a world with such and entrenched sense of place and immersive atmosphere thanks to an incredible soundtrack AND soundscape, along with a finely balanced difficulty curve make Metal Gear Solid a game worth playing even over 25 years after its initial release.
2022
Elden Ring is a game with incredible scope. Before playing it at launch, I don't think I ever found myself as immersed in an open world setting as I had with The Lands Between. The first 30 or so hours of playtime were mostly spent exploring the world, finding hidden secrets and coming to grips with one of the most fair and challenging difficulty curves in modern AAA gaming. The team at From Software truly set a new standard for these kind of games with Elden Ring and if it weren't for a woefully drawn out second half, I would have given this a perfect score. Alas, the game outstays its welcome once you finish the Royal Capital, and becomes a chore to slog through once the endgame truly comes. If it were not for that, it would be a near perfect experience.
2018
"There is no Escape."
In the face of adversity and in a brutal attempt to climb out of hell itself (that being the year 2020), Hades stunned the world with a meticulously crafted rougelite/RPG/visual novel hybrid that contained - more than anything else - a bleeding heart of pure passion. Supergiant's commitment to hand drawn, finely detailed art and musical scores led to one of the most pleasant games to look at in recent memory along with a soundtrack that's as hard hitting as it is emotionally diverse. Hades is a game that is easy to pick up and play, but brutal to conquer. One of the best games ever made and certainly Supergiant Games' best. Cannot wait for that sequel to drop.
In the face of adversity and in a brutal attempt to climb out of hell itself (that being the year 2020), Hades stunned the world with a meticulously crafted rougelite/RPG/visual novel hybrid that contained - more than anything else - a bleeding heart of pure passion. Supergiant's commitment to hand drawn, finely detailed art and musical scores led to one of the most pleasant games to look at in recent memory along with a soundtrack that's as hard hitting as it is emotionally diverse. Hades is a game that is easy to pick up and play, but brutal to conquer. One of the best games ever made and certainly Supergiant Games' best. Cannot wait for that sequel to drop.
2001
"In my restless dreams, I see that town..."
In terms of storytelling, few games even 21 years after its inital release match the emotional heights of Silent Hill 2's deeply dark delve into the mind and world of James Sunderland and the other unfortunate souls who happened to be in Silent Hill on that day. A masterfully written script alongside one of the most hauntingly beautiful musical scores in any mainstream video game. If the controls and combat were a bit better then the game would literally be perfect but alas perfection is not something so easily achieved in this world. Be sure to play the Enhanced Edition on PC if you don't have access to authentic 6th Gen hardware, the HD version is complete hogwash.
In terms of storytelling, few games even 21 years after its inital release match the emotional heights of Silent Hill 2's deeply dark delve into the mind and world of James Sunderland and the other unfortunate souls who happened to be in Silent Hill on that day. A masterfully written script alongside one of the most hauntingly beautiful musical scores in any mainstream video game. If the controls and combat were a bit better then the game would literally be perfect but alas perfection is not something so easily achieved in this world. Be sure to play the Enhanced Edition on PC if you don't have access to authentic 6th Gen hardware, the HD version is complete hogwash.
1998
"I'm a cop; it's my job"
Parasite Eve is a game that is woefully underwhelming despite some really cool ideas. The story is a sequel to a Japanese novel/movie from the same time period however I don't think even fans of the source material would find the story of this PlayStation Survival Horror RPG to be very appealing. Characters with confusing motivations, lacking personalities and dry dialogue really drag out the plot and make any cutscene feel like a chore to get through.
Thankfully, Parasite Eve's gameplay system is really cool, albeit lacking a lot of depth. Being a hybrid of Resident Evil and Final Fantasy, Parasite Eve's time based gunplay system adds a layer of tension I've rarely seen in an RPG to date though the magic system, called "PE" in this game, leaves a lot to be desired since there's not much to it other than spamming Heal magic and the Haste spell (Which is a crutch to be honest). A game with a solid foundation tied onto one of the most boring narratives I've ever seen in a game.
Parasite Eve is a game that is woefully underwhelming despite some really cool ideas. The story is a sequel to a Japanese novel/movie from the same time period however I don't think even fans of the source material would find the story of this PlayStation Survival Horror RPG to be very appealing. Characters with confusing motivations, lacking personalities and dry dialogue really drag out the plot and make any cutscene feel like a chore to get through.
Thankfully, Parasite Eve's gameplay system is really cool, albeit lacking a lot of depth. Being a hybrid of Resident Evil and Final Fantasy, Parasite Eve's time based gunplay system adds a layer of tension I've rarely seen in an RPG to date though the magic system, called "PE" in this game, leaves a lot to be desired since there's not much to it other than spamming Heal magic and the Haste spell (Which is a crutch to be honest). A game with a solid foundation tied onto one of the most boring narratives I've ever seen in a game.
2023
"If I could just forget the pain of that night- even for a second..."
The original Resident Evil 4 was a landmark moment in the history of video games. For years the series had languished in poor controls, bad voice acting and stagnant game design that even the move to full 3D in 2000's Code Veronica couldn't fix. RE4 changed all of that, and then some. The 2023 remake is a beautiful re-imagining that is nearly perfect in every regard. While it has its moments of pure idiocy (lack of i-frames means you'll be getting hitstunned from every other angle) the charm and character of Resident Evil 4 is mostly in tact here. Sure, there's some stuff toned down like the sexuality and the campiness, but it remains mostly true to itself and that's all it needed to be with a great soundtrack, stunning visuals and tight controls that make this one of the best games of the year.
The original Resident Evil 4 was a landmark moment in the history of video games. For years the series had languished in poor controls, bad voice acting and stagnant game design that even the move to full 3D in 2000's Code Veronica couldn't fix. RE4 changed all of that, and then some. The 2023 remake is a beautiful re-imagining that is nearly perfect in every regard. While it has its moments of pure idiocy (lack of i-frames means you'll be getting hitstunned from every other angle) the charm and character of Resident Evil 4 is mostly in tact here. Sure, there's some stuff toned down like the sexuality and the campiness, but it remains mostly true to itself and that's all it needed to be with a great soundtrack, stunning visuals and tight controls that make this one of the best games of the year.
1990
"Commander Solid Snake, Operation 747 commencing!"
Snake's Revenge is not a great game, but it is one that has an insane gameflow to it. Once you clear the very stilted and difficult intro section, you find yourself playing this weird hybrid of Contra and Metal Gear that has potential in spades but not enough solid design to keep it up in the long run. A great soundtrack and graphical look can't save this game from being plainly just uninteresting. Only the most diehard Metal Gear fans should go near this one.
Snake's Revenge is not a great game, but it is one that has an insane gameflow to it. Once you clear the very stilted and difficult intro section, you find yourself playing this weird hybrid of Contra and Metal Gear that has potential in spades but not enough solid design to keep it up in the long run. A great soundtrack and graphical look can't save this game from being plainly just uninteresting. Only the most diehard Metal Gear fans should go near this one.
2001
"Let's rock, baby"
Devil May Cry was brought into this world as a maligned half-step in re-creating something from the ashes of an abandoned Resident Evil 4 beta concept. It shows. The camera, stilted voice acting and wonky at times mechanics hinder what is a game that all in all is one of the most important of its era. Devil May Cry is a game that's worth playing, though moreso as a time capsule for seeing how the action genre evolved into something more than what previous attempts like The Bouncer from Squaresoft or Konami's Castlevania games on Nintendo 64 could offer. A game with a lot of heart and style, but rough around the edges.
Devil May Cry was brought into this world as a maligned half-step in re-creating something from the ashes of an abandoned Resident Evil 4 beta concept. It shows. The camera, stilted voice acting and wonky at times mechanics hinder what is a game that all in all is one of the most important of its era. Devil May Cry is a game that's worth playing, though moreso as a time capsule for seeing how the action genre evolved into something more than what previous attempts like The Bouncer from Squaresoft or Konami's Castlevania games on Nintendo 64 could offer. A game with a lot of heart and style, but rough around the edges.
2020
"See you in the big leagues"
(Note: I initially played this game in 2020 on an Xbox Series X, however the native Series X version had not released, hence why I labeled this under the Xbox One category)
Cyberpunk 2077 is a game with a lot of heart and soul that manages to gnaw at your very core. It's a game with a world so filled with life and details that it's insane to even compare another open world AAA city to this. Cyberpunk is bold and daring and perhaps misses the mark more times than it should on a few technical levels, however that's more than acceptable given the sheer scope of what the game achieves with its sublime presentation, haunting yet violent score and a heart of gold that shouldn't be passed up on...unless you're playing on an eighth generation console.
If you only have access to a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, avoid Cyberpunk 2077 like the plague. The game simply doesn't function on those consoles.
(Note: I initially played this game in 2020 on an Xbox Series X, however the native Series X version had not released, hence why I labeled this under the Xbox One category)
Cyberpunk 2077 is a game with a lot of heart and soul that manages to gnaw at your very core. It's a game with a world so filled with life and details that it's insane to even compare another open world AAA city to this. Cyberpunk is bold and daring and perhaps misses the mark more times than it should on a few technical levels, however that's more than acceptable given the sheer scope of what the game achieves with its sublime presentation, haunting yet violent score and a heart of gold that shouldn't be passed up on...unless you're playing on an eighth generation console.
If you only have access to a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, avoid Cyberpunk 2077 like the plague. The game simply doesn't function on those consoles.
2016
"Walk tall, my friends"
Ambition. That's the word that I think best describes, for better or worse, Final Fantasy XV. After an arduous development cycle that lasted anywhere from a decade to only four years depending on who you ask, Final Fantasy XV's base game is an open world that's as ambitious as it is empty and void of any real depth. The story is incredibly disjointed at the beginning of the game, not to mention half of the stuff from early trailers simply wasn't in the game at all. However, what we did get was an entertaining game for the most part, and one with one of the most lovable casts of characters in the series. Special mention must go to Yoko Shimomura's phenomenal OST that pairs beautifully with the stunningly realised world of Eos. A cautionary tale of ambition, but one that perhaps can still be found to be enjoyable in the right circumstances.
Ambition. That's the word that I think best describes, for better or worse, Final Fantasy XV. After an arduous development cycle that lasted anywhere from a decade to only four years depending on who you ask, Final Fantasy XV's base game is an open world that's as ambitious as it is empty and void of any real depth. The story is incredibly disjointed at the beginning of the game, not to mention half of the stuff from early trailers simply wasn't in the game at all. However, what we did get was an entertaining game for the most part, and one with one of the most lovable casts of characters in the series. Special mention must go to Yoko Shimomura's phenomenal OST that pairs beautifully with the stunningly realised world of Eos. A cautionary tale of ambition, but one that perhaps can still be found to be enjoyable in the right circumstances.
1986
"It's Dangerous to Go Alone. Take this!"
The Legend of Zelda's influence on the American games market in particular was something I wish I could have beheld, simply because I think that if I played it back in its prime, I would have loved it as much as any other kid from the eighties did. Alas, a game that's as cryptic and at times bizzare as this does not really hold up relatively speaking. The Legend of Zelda faces an uphill battle for the average modern video game player, and this isn't me trying to dunk on the casuals. Far from it. Quite simply the game is too archaic that even if you think you can accept its age and what that could entail, you truly cannot grasp the absurdity that The Legend of Zelda will make you go through to progress through its arduous quest. If you are willing to brave the "Hyrule Fantasy" and can stomach its manys traps and failings, then by all means, enjoy. It is a cornerstone piece of the video game industry, just not one that I think can be truly accessible to everyone these days.
The Legend of Zelda's influence on the American games market in particular was something I wish I could have beheld, simply because I think that if I played it back in its prime, I would have loved it as much as any other kid from the eighties did. Alas, a game that's as cryptic and at times bizzare as this does not really hold up relatively speaking. The Legend of Zelda faces an uphill battle for the average modern video game player, and this isn't me trying to dunk on the casuals. Far from it. Quite simply the game is too archaic that even if you think you can accept its age and what that could entail, you truly cannot grasp the absurdity that The Legend of Zelda will make you go through to progress through its arduous quest. If you are willing to brave the "Hyrule Fantasy" and can stomach its manys traps and failings, then by all means, enjoy. It is a cornerstone piece of the video game industry, just not one that I think can be truly accessible to everyone these days.
"Feel, think"
I was unsure how to approach my review of Final Fantasy XIV since all of the expansion packs are so vast and could be their own games with how much content they have (in fact on this very site they're their own games!) but for now I'll just go with everything from the beginning of A Realm Reborn up to the start of Heavensward.
Never in my life before Final Fantasy XIV had I played an MMORPG. I had once seen my cousin playing World of Warcraft many years prior and thought it would be cool to try playing that kind of game one day. Alas, that day finally came in 2013 when I first played the beta for Final Fantasy XIV's second version, after the original was killed in 2012 due to a myriad of issues.
The base game of Final Fantasy XIV is immensely rich in content on both a PvP and PvE scale. Thousands of quests, hundres of items, dozens of zones to visit. A great soundtrack by Masayoshi Soken (though he hadn't reached his absulte fullest yet here), stunning vistas even though it was limited by seventh generation technology....a Classic MMORPG then! But that comes with its own caveats. For one, the story in A Realm Reborn is - quite frankly - uninteresting for a good twenty to thirty HOURS. It genuinely feels as shallow as an early NES RPG at times with how lacking in motivation the characters are at times. It's incredibly detrimental to the entire experience to say to people "yeah, you should play Final Fantasy XIV but it takes like thirty hours to get good!"
Trust me when I say this; the beginning of the game is a slog, but once you get through it, you're in for one of the most beautiful gaming experiences I've ever had.
I was unsure how to approach my review of Final Fantasy XIV since all of the expansion packs are so vast and could be their own games with how much content they have (in fact on this very site they're their own games!) but for now I'll just go with everything from the beginning of A Realm Reborn up to the start of Heavensward.
Never in my life before Final Fantasy XIV had I played an MMORPG. I had once seen my cousin playing World of Warcraft many years prior and thought it would be cool to try playing that kind of game one day. Alas, that day finally came in 2013 when I first played the beta for Final Fantasy XIV's second version, after the original was killed in 2012 due to a myriad of issues.
The base game of Final Fantasy XIV is immensely rich in content on both a PvP and PvE scale. Thousands of quests, hundres of items, dozens of zones to visit. A great soundtrack by Masayoshi Soken (though he hadn't reached his absulte fullest yet here), stunning vistas even though it was limited by seventh generation technology....a Classic MMORPG then! But that comes with its own caveats. For one, the story in A Realm Reborn is - quite frankly - uninteresting for a good twenty to thirty HOURS. It genuinely feels as shallow as an early NES RPG at times with how lacking in motivation the characters are at times. It's incredibly detrimental to the entire experience to say to people "yeah, you should play Final Fantasy XIV but it takes like thirty hours to get good!"
Trust me when I say this; the beginning of the game is a slog, but once you get through it, you're in for one of the most beautiful gaming experiences I've ever had.
2019
"I am thou, thou art I..."
The original Persona 5 is already a five star masterpiece that has a few small bumps that needed ironing out. Persona 5 Royal, the 2020 (2019 in Japan) enhanced re-release of Persona 5 added enough content and ironed out those issues from the original game that it's safe to call this the perfect version of one of the best JRPG's ever made, certainly of this generation. The new music all fits in so brilliantly along with some new and exciting mini games to play that can keep you coming back for hours upon hours. The added story content is some of the best in the entire series and genuinely feels like what the writers really wanted the story to be once all was said and done.
The original Persona 5 is already a five star masterpiece that has a few small bumps that needed ironing out. Persona 5 Royal, the 2020 (2019 in Japan) enhanced re-release of Persona 5 added enough content and ironed out those issues from the original game that it's safe to call this the perfect version of one of the best JRPG's ever made, certainly of this generation. The new music all fits in so brilliantly along with some new and exciting mini games to play that can keep you coming back for hours upon hours. The added story content is some of the best in the entire series and genuinely feels like what the writers really wanted the story to be once all was said and done.
"Link begins his most adventuresome quest yet..."
A marked improvement over the original Legend of Zelda in many ways, but has its own myriad of issues. Zelda II is a game that establishes a lot of series staples such as towns to visit, a magic mechanic and the Triforce of Courage to name a few. The presentation is also far mroe interesting than that of the original game, with a more appealing colour palette and a soundtrack with more than three songs (it has a whopping EIGHT songs not including the title and end credits themes!). The core gameplay is also fun when it works, with a combat system that to me seemed to evoke a classic case of player skill being the deciding factor on success. However, the level design - especially in the later half of the game - completely falls apart and makes the game too unfair with the way that the continue system works. Trust me, Zelda II is a game with a tonne of potential which is why there have been many games since trying to emulate its style, but the 1987 game from Nintendo simply has too much unfair BS in its second half for me to truly recommend to anyone other than diehard NES enthusiasts who want to play a game that truly defines "NES Hard".
A marked improvement over the original Legend of Zelda in many ways, but has its own myriad of issues. Zelda II is a game that establishes a lot of series staples such as towns to visit, a magic mechanic and the Triforce of Courage to name a few. The presentation is also far mroe interesting than that of the original game, with a more appealing colour palette and a soundtrack with more than three songs (it has a whopping EIGHT songs not including the title and end credits themes!). The core gameplay is also fun when it works, with a combat system that to me seemed to evoke a classic case of player skill being the deciding factor on success. However, the level design - especially in the later half of the game - completely falls apart and makes the game too unfair with the way that the continue system works. Trust me, Zelda II is a game with a tonne of potential which is why there have been many games since trying to emulate its style, but the 1987 game from Nintendo simply has too much unfair BS in its second half for me to truly recommend to anyone other than diehard NES enthusiasts who want to play a game that truly defines "NES Hard".